By , Last updated on: 8/21/2014

Canon's SX30 superzoom sports a whopping 24-840mm lens, the longest focal range on the market. The tradeoff for that huge range seems to be soft image quality, according to expert and user reviews. Since its built around a standard CCD sensor, it lags behind its competitors in terms of high-ISO image quality, speed, and video ability (it "only" shoots 720p video, where most upcoming competitors shoot 1080i or 1080p). For a few months after its release, it was one of the better superzooms out there, and it's still generally a good camera. But now that the market has caught up and the SX30 remains at a stiff $400, we have to knock it down a peg.

The body is built from components typically reserved for dSLRs, like an ultrasonic motor and several special lens elements. The optical image stabilization is said to be the most effective Canon has ever included in a camera, compensating for an equivalent of 4.5 stops' worth of camera shake. If those last couple specs went over your head, trust us when we say that means it's a really good camera. The reviews we've seen so far indicate that the picture quality is quite soft at the tip of the telephoto end, which is frustrating with a camera at this price, but that's a sacrifice that you'll have to make for that kind of zooming capability. It's still one of the best superzooms that money can buy at the moment.

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Canon Reviews

Top quality optics, dependability, and convenience of use are just some of the reasons that customers choose Canon digital cameras. One of the top makers of digital cameras in the world today, Canon has attained a reputation for creating some of the best digital cameras and digital SLRs available on the market. Canon cameras are inevitably on the camera wish list of any consumer that desires a high quality camera.

Canon is not generally a cheap brand by any means. In spite of this, Canon digital cameras have achieved the best buy status. This proves that you get great value for the extra money. In the past few years, Canon has begun releasing several types that are more inexpensive, without cutting quality.

Canon cameras come in two main types—the smallest is the Powershot line, compact, point-and-shoot cameras that still maintain a reasonable level of image quality. Canon Powershot cameras range from budget point-and-shoots like the ELPH 115 to an advanced compact with a 1.5” sensor, the G1X Mark II. Typically, if you are going to buy a point-and-shoot on nothing but the reputation of the brand, Canon is a pretty safe bet.

The second type of Canon camera is the EOS line—the DSLRs. The EOS line has a solid reputation as well for performance across the board, including video. Canon has a wide range of options available too, from top of the line full frame professional models to small, entry-level DSLRs.

While other manufacturers are concentrating on mirrorless models and packing more power into smaller cameras, Canon doesn't seem to be following that trend exactly. They've released some smaller DSLRs like the SL1, but haven't been putting time into mirrorless models. Whether this is good or bad is a matter of personal opinion, but the models that are out there are, more often than not, solid performers.

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Digital Camera HQ offers unbiased, informative reviews and recommendations from camera experts and everyday users looking to share their own experiences. We're not a store, but we'll help you find a great camera at the best price. Throughout the site, you'll find some of our most popular cameras as well as links to reviews, comparisons, and guides.